Adam Wild (GS Metro) and Kelly Murphy (Storey Racing) drew first blood in the Sigma Sports Classic Time Trial Series, as the Wessex Road Club staged round one in Dorset on Sunday.

Wild clocked 49-44 for the 24-mile hilly course, the 21-year-old Edinburgh University medicine student from Newcastle proving fastest by just four seconds from Phil Williams (Liverpool Phoenix CC), while Leon Wright (Race Hub) was third, another 42 seconds off the pace.

And in the women’s event Murphy, who just returned to time trialling following a lengthy spell focussed on riding the individual pursuit for Ireland at the World Championships, showed she can ride for longer than four minutes with a strong performance to win the women’s category.

The 29-year-old from Birmingham covered the course in 58-04 to win by 31 seconds from a3crg veteran Angela Carpenter, while Rebecca Johnson (Brother.uk) was third.

“I didn’t really know what to expect from today because it was a strong field on paper and it’s only my second event of the year,” said Wild. “It was quite a hard day with strong winds on about three sides of the diamond-shaped course, and only a tail wind on the last bit.

“I dropped my chain after the first junction but got it back on without too much bother. It was on the downhill section so I was soon back on my way.

“I plan to ride as many events in the series as possible. I’ve got a couple of races in Scotland in the next few weeks and the BUCS 10-mile Championships.”

And Murphy added: “It was a nice warm start and a sunny day, but it was super windy and there was a lot of traffic, but that would’ve affected everybody the same.

“I did this course a couple of years ago and I rode it yesterday as a recce. It was quite exposed and lumpy, but I just needed to keep the power down and even all the way around.”

In other categories Jonathan Gates (RAF CA) was quickest veteran in 51-44 – like Wild he won by just four seconds from Charles Mitchell (a3crg).

Fabien Large (NOPINZ) was fastest junior boy in 54-38, while Caitlin Peters (Storey Racing) was best junior girl in 1-00-22. And the paracyclists prize went to Graeme Church (Team Milton Keynes) in 1-26-40.

Almost 100 riders competed on the P427 course which took riders through minor roads up to the A354 before heading down to Blandford Camp and back across to near Wimborne.

* A full gallery of images from this event by Kimroy Photography is available here

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.